Archery Equipment

Nydam quiver (4-6th C, Scandinavia)

Hollow wooden quiver, turned, split and hollowed out, then hide glued and wired back together with a base held in with oak pegs. Leather belt supplied to nominated length without a buckle.

Customers are advised that when done to historic dimensions, the Nydam and other wooden quivers are generally suitable for up to eight arrows.

$220, painting extra. Bronze buckle and belt end can be supplied at cost.

Reference: Rau, A. (2007). "Remarks on Finds of Wooden Quivers from Nydam Mose, Southern Jutland, Denmark". Archaeologica Baltica 8, 141-154. Lithuania: Klaipeda University Press.

Anglo Saxon quiver (8-11th C, England)

3mm top grain vegetable tanned leather; iron buckle, pine wood disk in the base. Simple stamped decoration, natural undyed hand plied linen stitching, beeswax finish over modern dye.

From $170, extra for embossing, pierce work, painting, complex stamping. Brass buckle and belt end can be supplied at cost. The more complex example has the decoration taken from the cover of the Stonyhurst Gospel. The green is from the contemporary Lindisfarne Gospels

11th C Saxon arrows and quiver

From $170, extra for embossing, pierce work, painting, complex stamping. Bronze buckle and belt end can be supplied at cost.

Quiver inspired by 11th C Saxon sources, including the Franks' Casket and the Bayeux Tapestry.

Hedeby quiver (8-10th C, Norse)

3mm top grain vegetable tanned leather with suspension loops for belt (not provided). Simple cut decoration, natural undyed hand plied linen stitching, beeswax finish over modern dye.

From $160, extra for stamping, embossing, pierce work, painting. Waist belt can be supplied at cost.

Reference: Groenman van Waateringe, W. (1984). "Die Lederfunde Von Haithabu" in Wachholtz, K. (1984) in Berichte über die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu 21

British Library Sloane MS 3983, second half 14th century

A tubular quiver with a wooden base, and extensible collar, based on the illumination in British Library Sloane MS 3983 fol. 13. This provides protection for the fletching on all but the longest arrows.

From $160, extra for stamping, embossing, painting. Waist belt can be supplied at cost.

Reference: Jafar ibn Muhammad [Abu Mashas]; Georgius Zothori; (14th century). Liber Astrologiae. Burgundy or S. Netherlands. BL Sloane 3983, f.13.

Museum of London arrow spacer (15-16th C, England)

4mm leather, 170mm diameter, 24x 9mm holes for arrows with the triangle cutouts to allow use with bodkins or the smaller broadheads. Similar spacers with only round holes were found on the Mary Rose.

Spacer only, no stitch holes $45; with hand sewn canvas arrow bag, $120,

Newport Ship bracer, around 1468

The bracer is eight-sided with four concave curving and four straight sides. The front panel of cattle hide and calfskin lining are unstitched; the lining is glued in place. The front panel also has a pair of central cut-outs showing a fabric layer.

These are my two test pieces I made for a commission, the black one is dyed with vinegaroon, the brown with a synthetic version of walnut. The stamp impressions are a little less deep and clear as on the production version, but are better than the original. There are some marks on the leather. They are made to the original size and are tiny compared to the later medieval and modern bracers. 120mm long, 110mm wide, fit arm diameter to about 270mm. A$50 each. Specify arm diameter so I can put the holes in the strap.

Reference: Newport Medieval Ship Project. (2010, July 10). Archer's wrist guard/bracer found of Newport ship. Casgliad y Werin Cymru | People's Collection Wales. Retrieved 8 November 2025 from www.peoplescollection.wales/items/19193#?xywh=-400%2C0%2C4319%2C2345

Archer's Arm Guard - brass buckle, 13-16th C

An interpertation by Mary Rose bracer 81A5826, made somewhat larger to suit modern taste and made from carving leather. The copper alloy buckle with roller allows it to be used anywhere from the 12th century onwards, the use of copper rivets comes from the originals.

Fits 17-27cm sleeve. A$50

Archer's Arm Guard - brass buckle, 13-16th C

This arm guard is inspired by Mary Rose bracer 81A4639, based on the surviving 50mm x 55mm fragment. Made from carving leather, the dimensions of this reconstruction have been taken from the similarly shaped 80A0901. The copper alloy buckle with roller allows it to be used anywhere from the 12th century onwards, the use of copper rivets comes from the originals.

Fits 18-26cm sleeve. A$50

Mary Rose 80A0901, 14-16th C

This is a dimensionally accurate copy of Mary Rose bracer 80A0901, made from carving leather and with a cast brass buckle. The shape of the buckle is conjectural but has been informed by the buckle on bracer 80A1308, the use of copper rivets also comes from the originals.

Made for our Making Historical Reproductions - Mary Rose: Volume 1, I haven't punched any holes yet so can adjust to fit your sleeve size. A$65.

Reference: Hildred, A. (2011). Weapons of Warre - The Armament of the Mary Rose. United Kingdom, Portsmouth: Mary Rose Trust.

Newport Ship bracer, around 1468

The bracer is eight-sided with four concave curving and four straight sides. The front panel of cattle hide and calfskin lining are unstitched; the lining is glued in place. The front panel also has a pair of central cut-outs showing a fabric layer. If made to the original size, it's tiny compared to the later medieval and modern bracers. 120mm long, 110mm wide, fit arm diameter to about 270mm, I can scale to larger if needed at no additional cost.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. $75

Reference: Newport Medieval Ship Project. (2010, July 10). Archer's wrist guard/bracer found of Newport ship. Casgliad y Werin Cymru | People's Collection Wales. Retrieved 8 November 2025 from www.peoplescollection.wales/items/19193#?xywh=-400%2C0%2C4319%2C2345

Mary Rose 80A0901, 14-16th C

This is a dimensionally accurate copy of Mary Rose bracer 80A0901, made from carving leather and with a cast brass buckle. The shape of the buckle is conjectural but has been informed by the buckle on bracer 80A1308, the use of copper rivets also comes from the originals.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. $65

Reference: Hildred, A. (2011). Weapons of Warre - The Armament of the Mary Rose. United Kingdom, Portsmouth: Mary Rose Trust.

Mary Rose 81A5826, 14-16th C

This is a dimensionally accurate copy of Mary Rose bracer 81A5826, made from carving leather and with a cast brass buckle. The shape of the buckle is conjectural but has been informed by the buckle on bracer 80A1308, the use of copper rivets also comes from the originals.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. $65

Reference: Hildred, A. (2011). Weapons of Warre - The Armament of the Mary Rose. United Kingdom, Portsmouth: Mary Rose Trust.

Mary Rose 81A1173, 14-16th C

This is a dimensionally accurate copy of Mary Rose bracer 81A1173, made from carving leather and with a cast brass buckle. The shape of the buckle is conjectural but has been informed by the buckle on bracer 80A1308, the use of copper rivets also comes from the originals.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 5-6 weeks. $65

Reference: Hildred, A. (2011). Weapons of Warre - The Armament of the Mary Rose. United Kingdom, Portsmouth: Mary Rose Trust.

Mary Rose 81A1185, 14-16th C

This is a reconstruction of Mary Rose bracer 81A1185, based on the surviving 86mm x 62mm fragment. Made from carving leather and with a cast brass buckle, the dimensions of this reconstruction have been taken from the similarly shaped 82A1524. The shape of the buckle is conjectural but has been informed by the buckle on bracer 80A1308, the use of copper rivets also comes from the originals.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. $65

Reference: Hildred, A. (2011). Weapons of Warre - The Armament of the Mary Rose. United Kingdom, Portsmouth: Mary Rose Trust.

Mary Rose 80A1308, 14-16th C

This is a dimensionally accurate copy of Mary Rose bracer 80A1308. It is made from harness butt leather with a cast brass buckle, and dyed red. The shape of the iron buckle in the photo is inferred from the shape of the accretion adhering to the strap, the use of copper rivets also comes from the original.

The archers in William Neade's book The Double Armed Man of 1625 all wear similar arm guards.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. A$65 with brass buckle; A$105 with hand made iron buckle.

References: Hildred, A. (2011). Weapons of Warre - The Armament of the Mary Rose. United Kingdom, Portsmouth: Mary Rose Trust.
Neade, W. (1625). The Double Armed Man. United Kingdom, London: Grisman, at the signe of the Gun in Pauls Alley.

British Museum MLA 1922,1-10,1 early 16th C

Heavily embossed bracer decorated with encrowned rose and inscription "IHS helpe". It is made from harness butt leather and can be supplied with split strap and buckle as originally made, or punched with thong for the later field repaired form. 124mm long.

Made to order, specify sleeve size and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. $130 includes paint, gilding and hand made brass buckle.

References: Dalton, O. (1922). "A Late-Medieval Bracer in the British Museum". Antiquities Journal 2, 208-210.
British Museum (n.d.). wrist-guard. British Museum Online Collection. www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1922-0110-1
Robinson, W. (2017, January 17). Another brilliant idea. The Reverend's Big Blog of Leather. leatherworkingreverend.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/another-brilliant-idea/

Coventry finger tab, 15th century

The bracer is eight-sided with four concave curving and four straight sides. The front panel of cattle hide and calfskin lining are unstitched; the lining is glued in place. The front panel also has a pair of central cut-outs showing a fabric layer.

It needs to be customised for the user and the bow you use, rather than just copying the original. My tab is made from 1.2mm (3oz) pig skin, and is comfortable with my 50# longbow with a 16-strand Flemish twist string. If I use calf skin, 0.8mm (2oz) works for light draw weight bows, but it needs to be around 1.2mm or thicker (3oz +) for heavier draw weights.

Made to order, specify finger size, bow weight and colour. Lead time 3-4 weeks. $30.

References: Soar, H. (2004). The Crooked Stick — A History of the Longbow. United States, Pennsylvania: Westholme.
Robinson, W. (2009, August 29). Archer’s finger tab from Coventry c. 1500. The Reverend’s Big Blog of Leather. Retrieved 8 November 2025 from leatherworkingreverend.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/archers-finger-tab-from-coventry-c-1500/

Bull targets

Two archery targets for a customer who does history demonstrations for schools. He likes to be able to do a bull's eye pun if he misses the rondel face. The black bull dates to 1320, the red to 1425, both based on Italian heraldry. Any resemblance to a popular beverage is coincidental. The target faces are modern. Enamel paint on 12mm ply. I'm not a fan of ply targets, but he says it's the only way he can get his targets lasting the year. 600mm x 1200mm x 12mm.

Gothic knight target

This one's rather elderly, it was my first painted archery target. Acrylic paint on canvas over a Strammit target face. 1200mm x 1200mm. I can't find the photos of the Templar Strammit target that I painted. Templars is personal.